Jun. 13--HIGH POINT -- The current respite from the oppressive heat likely will end Sunday, ushering in another spell of 90-plus degree days.

Meanwhile, air conditioners and cooling systems have been going full tilt through the last of May and early June. May 29 was the only day last month that climbed into the 90s, hitting 91, according to Rod Gonski, a National Weather Service meteorologist

The High Point-Greensboro area had three consecutive 90-plus degree days June 7-9, Gonski said. "Normally, in June, we have six days of 90 and above," he said. "Typically, in May in the long term, we don't have them, but there have been exceptions." Early June's normal high temperatures hover around 82 to 83 degrees. The city's electric system peaked Friday at 222 megawatts used by 39,098 customers, said Garey Edwards, electric department director. "That was our peak for the year so far," he said. "Normally, our average peak for June is 200 (megawatts). Historically, our highest (monthly) peak was 258 megawatts (used) in July 2005.

We set all sorts of records that year." The city's maximum generating capacity is 450 megawatts. "We've got enough excess capacity to handle what we see coming in the summertime,"Edwards said. "We have adequate transformers to handle it. "Our humidity starts getting up in the summer around here, and humidity will add to the air conditioning load. The nights stay hot too, and that's when you see your usage go up." Last June, the High Point-Greensboro area had four days of temperatures at 90 degrees or above, Gonski said. "By Sunday, we should see some heat coming back at us," he said. "We should remain in the low to mid-80s until then.

The current predictions are for 90 degrees Sunday and 92 on Monday." nmaheras@hpe.com|888-3534